2011 NCAA Offseason Winners/Losers

           We've already covered, and continue to update our Stock Watch back on the home page, and now that the official Early Entry Deadline has passed, we take a look at the offseason winners/losers so far.

Feel free to comment or post any questions below with any teams we've missed or notes we've overlooked.

Winners:

UNC

        Need we say anything about further about two lottery picks returning for another year (Harrison Barnes, John Henson) and another first-rounder (Tyler Zeller)? The Tar Heels are by far and away the favorites for next season, adding those three frontcourt studs to electrifying point guard Kendall Marshall and another stellar recruiting class to give UNC depth.

Ohio State

        Sure they lost most of their frontcourt in Jon Diebler, David Lighty and the enforcer, Dallas Lauderdale, but the best big in the country, Jared Sullinger, is returning to Columbus, along with William Buford, Aaron Craft, and Deshaun Thomas to form a great core. Sullinger was a top-five lock, while Buford and Thomas were destined for the second-round. Joining them next year will be another solid Thad Matta recruiting class, featuring All-Americans Shannon Scott and Amir Williams.

Memphis

        The Tigers took Arizona to the wire in the first round and all signs pointed to Josh Pastner's stars, Will Barton and Wesley Witherspoon departing for the Draft, along with Will Coleman (graduation), depleting the C-USA champs of three of their top four scorers. But Barton and Witherspoon committed to another year, forming a formidable core along with point guard Joe Jackson and All-American forward Adonis Thomas.

Syracuse

        At the beginning of the season, it looked like Jim Boeheim would lose Rick Jackson (graduation), but also Fab Melo and Kris Joseph as well. In part to some underachieving, the Orange bring back four of five starters, but replace Jackson with freshman Rakeem Christmas.

Connecticut

        Kemba Walker is a no-brainer to depart early, but things looked bright for shooting guard Jeremy Lamb who broke out in the post season. The lanky freshman will be back for his sophomore year, as will center Alex Oriakhi, who will need to step up in a big way if he has NBA aspirations.

Losers:

Kansas

        Not only did Bill Self and the Jayhawks lose their frontcourt stars in Marcus and Markieff Morris, but underachieving, yet potential-filled freshman guard Josh Selby to the draft. Losing the top perimeter shooters on the team in Tyrel Reed and Brady Morningstar will hurt too. Super-sub and potential 2012 first-round pick, Thomas Robinson returns to give Kansas toughness and rebounding.

Pittsburgh

        The Panthers have won one game in each of the last two post-seasons despite carrying a high ranking throughout the year and developing into some analysts favorites with their astute defense and team defense. Given the graduations of forwards Brad Wanamaker, Gilbert Brown and Gary McGhee, Jamie Dixon would have to re-load with a four-man recruiting class featuring Khem Birch and Malcolm Gilbert, but also Ashton Gibbs, the Big East's best perimeter shooter. Gibbs put his name in the draft and is leaning towards hiring an agent from our understanding, which would cripple Dixon's chances at another conference title in 2011-12.

Kentucky

        Sure, Kentucky has the number one recruiting class in all of the land, but think of what they could have been. Another year, another class of one-and-dones gone. "Jorts" Harrellson, a fan favorite and the hardest worker the Wildcats had, graduated, joining the likes of Brandon Knight and Terrence Jones not with the program any longer.

Texas

        Despite early reports that all were returning, Jordan Hamilton, Tristan Thompson and Cory Joseph- three of the team's top five scorers put their names in the draft, with Hamilton signing with an agent and Thompson likely following suit. Forward Gary Johnson had graduated as well, leaving Rick Barnes with a rather bare pen.

Washington State

        Losing DeAngelo Casto was a given as the power forward was in and out of trouble with coach Ken Boone, but the Pac-10's leading scorer, shooting guard Klay Thompson, appeared to be leaning towards staying in school. As many of the top draft prospects returned to school, Thompson moved up draft boards into the mid-20s. He's going to stay in the draft, depriving the Cougars of two of their top three scorers and their top two rebounders as well.

UCLA
        Joining the UCLA downfall, both Tyler Honeycutt and Malcolm Lee, could have improved their stocks with another year in school, but are pretty much set on their decision to elevate their games in the NBA.

Tennessee

        There were NCAA violations and investigations, a head coach firing and the programs' two rising stars, Scotty Hopson and Tobias Harris putting their names in the draft. Hopson seemed as good as gone once Pearl was removed, while Harris was open to coming back to Knoxville with a formidable replacement. Despite forming a relationship with new head coach Cuonzo Martin, Harris has liked hearing his name as a first-round talent and won't be back.

Pac-10

        The Pac-10 was down before, but seemed primed for a return to national prominence. Arizona's Derrick Williams is leaving as expected, but two UCLA players - Tyler Honeycutt, Malcolm Lee - Washington's Isaiah Thomas, Stanford's Jeremy Green and Washington State's Klay Thompson are leaving the cupboard as bare as ever. Look for upperclassmen UCLA's Reeves Nelson and Josh Smtih, USC's Jio Fontan, Terrence Ross of Washington, and Cal's Harper Kemp and Allen Crabbe to carry the torch. Three Arizona freshmen (Josiah Turner, Nick Johnson and Angelo Chol) will be among the


By President Corey Ruff - 4-29-11